The City of Knoxville is requesting public input and comment on its draft Five-Year Consolidated Plan for Community Development, as well as the Annual Action Plan, and a public hearing has been scheduled.

Prepared by the Community Development Department, the 5-year plan outlines Knoxville's needs, priorities, and strategies for homeless assistance, affordable housing, and non-housing community development for the next five years. It also indicates which neighborhoods will be eligible for targeted programs.

The department has also drafted the 2010-2011 Annual Action Plan, which describes the proposed use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME), and Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) funds.

At this time, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has not notified the City of the amount of funds it will receive for the 2010-2011 program year beginning July 1, 2010. The City is estimating the receipt of approximately $2,080,000 in CDBG funds; $1,400,000 in HOME funds; and $81,435 in ESG funds.

The City also anticipates receiving approximately $100,000 in CDBG program income and $350,000 in HOME program income. The City also will be reallocating approximately $500,000 in unspent, prior-year HOME funding.

The draft Annual Action Plan proposes the following approximate allocation of funds that will be adjusted when the actual amount of funds is known. More detailed budget estimates are included in the draft annual plan.

CDBG: $435,000 - general program administration; $1,340,000 - housing programs including $100,000 for permanent supportive housing; $335,000 - land acquisition and commercial facade improvements; $70,000 -public services and technical assistance through subrecipients.

HOME: $174,000 - program administration; $1,026,000 - owner-occupied rehab; $300,000 - ome buyer down payment assistance; $250,000 - ermanent supportive housing; $450,000 - projects implemented by local nonprofit Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO's); and $50,000 - CHDO operating.

ESG: $22,800 - essential services; $56,135 - perations and maintenance; $2,500 - homeless prevention.

The City of Knoxville encourages citizen comment on the draft plans. Two public meetings will take place.

First, Knoxville City Council will hold a workshop on the Five-Year Consolidated Plan and the Annual Action Plan at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 8, in the Small Assembly Room at the City-County Building. Free parking is available behind the building after 5 p.m.

Second, a public hearing on the two plans will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at the Cansler YMCA, 616 Jessamine St. Citizens may voice their comments at that time. They also can submit their comments via e-mail to Becky Wade at [email protected], or in writing by mail or fax to Becky Wade, City of Knoxville, Community Development Department, P.O. Box 1631, Knoxville, TN 37901, fax 865-215-2962.

All comments must be received no later than Monday April 19, 2010. Call 865-215-2120 for additional information.

Citizens can obtain copies of both the Five-Year Plan and the Annual Action Plan in several ways. First, the documents (in PDF format) can be downloaded from these links:

Hard copies of the draft plan are available for viewing at these locations in Knoxville:

Community Development Department, 5th floor, City-County Bldg., 400 Main Avenue
Lawson-McGhee branch, Knox County Public Library
Main office, Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee, 2247 Western Avenue
East Neighborhood Center, 4200 Asheville Highway
South Neighborhood Center, 522 Maryville Pike

Citizens without access to the above sources may obtain a copy of the draft plan by calling the Community Development Department at 865-215-2120.